95% of dengue patients in Habiganj returned from Dhaka
- 128 infected and 2 deaths in Habiganj over two months
- Two people who died of dengue had been working in Dhaka
- Rising number of infected people returning from Dhaka raises concern over spread of dengue
Graphics: Agamir Somoy
A total of 128 people received treatment for dengue in Habiganj over the past two months. About 95 percent of them returned to the district after being infected in Dhaka. Two people died during this period. They had also been working in Dhaka. District Civil Surgeon Ratnadip Biswas provided the information to Agamir Somoy last Friday.
Meanwhile, the increasing number of people returning from the capital after being infected has raised concerns about the spread of dengue in the haor areas of the district.
Krishna Das, 45, of haor surrounded Baniachong upazila, died on 8 September and Afia Khatun, 54, died on 2 August. Both returned to Habiganj from Dhaka with fever. They later died while undergoing treatment at Ragib Rabeya Medical College and Hospital in Sylhet.
According to data from the district health department, the highest number of dengue patients was identified in Lakhai over the past two months. A total of 59 people received treatment at the upazila health complex. Almost all of those infected had returned from Dhaka. At least 20,000 people from this haor surrounded upazila are engaged in hotel businesses and other jobs in the capital.
During the same period, 51 dengue patients received treatment in Habiganj Sadar upazila, 14 in Madhabpur and four in Chunarughat. Currently, eight critically ill patients are receiving treatment at the isolation unit of the 250 bed district headquarters hospital. One critically ill patient each is being treated at the Lakhai and Madhabpur upazila health complexes.
District Civil Surgeon Ratnadip Biswas said when an Aedes mosquito bites a dengue infected patient, the mosquito can acquire the dengue virus through the patient's blood. Later, when that mosquito bites another person, it can transmit the virus to that person's body.
He said dengue could spread in the haor areas of the district through patients returning from Dhaka after being infected. The matter is concerning. Patients returning from Dhaka with fever must be taken to hospital quickly. They must be protected from mosquito bites. The use of mosquito nets must also be ensured. A 10 bed isolation unit has been kept ready at the district hospital for treating dengue patients.
According to Md Bahar Uddin, vice president of the Habiganj district branch of Citizens for Good Governance (SUJAN), ensuring treatment for infected patients alone will not be enough to control dengue. Effective drives must be conducted regularly to prevent the spread of mosquitoes. Anyone returning to the district from Dhaka who develops a fever or symptoms of dengue must be brought under testing and treatment quickly. They must also be protected from mosquito bites.
Habiganj Municipality Executive Officer Mohammad Javed Iqbal Chowdhury said regular cleaning and mosquito control activities are being carried out to prevent dengue and other mosquito borne diseases. Special programs are also being conducted every Saturday. At the same time, city residents need to be aware of keeping their homes and surrounding areas clean. Alongside the municipality's initiatives, citizens must also play a responsible role.
